Zeppelin Mysteries Hosted by Steve A. Jones

[3hrsoflunacy]

One more Steve......Do you have the date Jimmy performed with Bad Company in 1974?

Thanks!

[SteveAJones]

One more Steve......Do you have the date Jimmy performed with Bad Company in 1974?

September 1, 1974

Austin, TX

University of Texas Memorial Stadium - ZZ Top's First Annual Texas Size Rompin' Stompin' Barndance and Bar B.Q.

Jimmy joined Bad Company for an encore jam on 'Rock Me Baby' upon their request that he do so…Carlos Santana

co-headlined with ZZ Top; Joe Cocker and Bad Company were the opening acts

September 4, 1974

New York, NY

Central Park - Schaefer Music Festival

Jimmy attended this event with Peter Grant; watches from side stage and joins Bad Company (opening for Foghat) for the second time this week on their second encore, a jam on 'Rock Me Baby'.

[3hrsoflunacy]

September 1, 1974

Austin, TX

University of Texas Memorial Stadium - ZZ Top's First Annual Texas Size Rompin' Stompin' Barndance and Bar B.Q.

Jimmy joined Bad Company for an encore jam on 'Rock Me Baby' upon their request that he do so…Carlos Santana

co-headlined with ZZ Top; Joe Cocker and Bad Company were the opening acts

September 4, 1974

New York, NY

Central Park - Schaefer Music Festival

Jimmy attended this event with Peter Grant; watches from side stage and joins Bad Company (opening for Foghat) for the second time this week on their second encore, a jam on 'Rock Me Baby'.

Thanks! I appreciate it. Appears the recording I have is from the second date.

Edited May 16, 2010 by 3hrsoflunacy

[SteveAJones]

Who Is That Masked Guitarist?

This is not a mystery to some but perhaps for many a point pondered: who is the bandaged guitarist in Robert Plant's promotional video for 'Burning Down One Side' (02:26-02:40)?

The bandaged guitarist is in fact Nash the Slash (the guitar solo on the album is performed by Robbie Blunt).

http://www.nashtheslash.com/news/

http://en.wikipedia..../Nash_the_Slash

Edited May 18, 2010 by SteveAJones

[dazedjeffy]

Jammer started working for Led Zeppelin at the Newport Jazz Festival (July 6 1969) so it could have been done anytime after that date. They did play Chicago July 18 & 19 1969 and returned to play Chicago October 19 1969.

If it was done in England it would have been Sep, Nov or Dec '69 or Jan '70. One way to narrow the possiblities

would be to ascertain the first or earliest date it was used with the modifications made. Photographs anyone?

This from Frank Reddon's Enzepplozine (Feb 19, 2009 issue):

Meet Joe Jammer!

“Here comes ‘Joe the Jammer’”. That’s what Robert Plant and Jimmy Page used to say when they saw him, and the sobriquet was later shortened to simply “Joe Jammer”. But his real name was Joseph Edward William Wright II, in honour of his grandfather, an accomplished athlete at St. Dennis Grammar School and St. Lawrence High School in Chicago. Both Joe Wrights were active in sports. For Joe Wright II, music took a back seat to athletics, but it was always part of his life. Joe told Rudis, “I was the old hockey player, the old football player. Whatever was happening, I was on the scene. Music was always secondary.”

Joe Wright’s life was about to become a real-life fairy tale come true! The teenager played guitar in blues and psychedelic bands that covered the popular songs of the day by artists like Jimi Hendrix and Cream.

There was a psychedelic ballroom in Chicago, typical of music venues in the mid to late 1960s. Located on Clark Street near Lawrence Avenue, The Kinetic Playground was operated by Aaron Russo, who would later become Bette Midler’s manager. (As an interesting aside…Ahmet Ertegun, who signed Led Zeppelin to his Atlantic Records label, would also sign Bette. Her now-classic debut album, The Divine Miss M, was released in 1972).

Because he helped organize the Tuesday night jam sessions at the Kinetic, Joe Wright got in free to hear the concerts and was allowed to roam the venue. That’s how he happened to meet the members of Led Zeppelin backstage before they performed in Chicago on the band’s First U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1968-69. The band was opening for Vanilla Fudge on February 7 and 8, 1969.

As Joe told Rudis, he had read about a new group coming to the Kinetic Playground. It was called Led Zeppelin and it featured guitarist, Jimmy Page, from The Yardbirds. No one there had ever heard of Led Zeppelin, but Joe really dug The Yardbirds so he decided to check out this new band of Page’s.

Arriving in the afternoon, he was sitting around the backstage area playing his Les Paul guitar with a friend accompanying him on bass. Suddenly, his friend told him that the members of Led Zeppelin were listening to him! So he decided to really put on a show and give them an earful.

Afterward, the boys in the band struck up a conversation with him. Drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham offered to buy his guitar. Then Jimmy Page. Finally, vocalist Robert Plant said he wanted it and they argued. Joe broke it up with “It’s not for sale!”

It’s interesting that Joe never mentioned John Paul Jones. Perhaps he wasn’t there yet. Maybe he just didn’t want a Les Paul guitar! Or maybe he was simply being his quiet, retiring self.

When Zeppelin performed that night, Joe said the band just blew the audience away, himself included. After the show, Jimmy Page said to him, “See you next time”. And Page DID remember Joe the next time the band played Chicago, on May 24 and 25 of that year. Their friendship started to grow.

Joe said that Jimmy Page’s playing inspired him to start taking his own music-making more seriously. He admired him so much. Joe started working in a number of Chicago-area bands but found it hugely unsatisfying. When The Newport Jazz Festival rolled around in the summer of ’69, Joe didn’t need much convincing to attend and leave his current band behind.

In those days, The Newport Jazz Festival and other similar events experimented by showcasing hot new rock acts as well as jazz bands because rock’n’roll was progressive, cutting edge music that could draw a crowd. As it happened, Led Zeppelin was one of the acts booked into the Festival.

Once again, Joe made his way backstage and was greeted as a friend by Jimmy Page. Joe told Page of his difficulties in finding the right people for his band to suit his creative, musical needs. He reasoned that Jimmy must meet all kinds of musicians while touring, so would he mind recommending any he might happen across?

Of course, Jimmy Page had survived the same dilemma himself only the year before! He had been a super guitarist in search of quality musicians to make up a band that would fulfil his vision.

Page replied that he was pretty busy while on the road touring. But his next suggestion completely took Joe by surprise. He invited the teenager to come on the road with Led Zeppelin! That way, Page explained, Joe could meet and recruit musicians himself.

What an amazing opportunity! And how generous of Jimmy Page. Joe didn’t even bother to return to Chicago. He bid his friends adieu in Newport. He dropped everything to replace a roadie who wasn’t working out for the group and he became Led Zeppelin’s equipment man.

It was during Led Zeppelin’s Third U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1969 that Joe Wright earned his nickname. He would often jam with Page in his dressing room or with all the members of Zeppelin before a gig. Joe would jam with the supporting acts and back-up bands, too. And so Joe Wright became Joe the Jammer, as far as Page and Plant were concerned.

The name suited him and stuck. While jamming with Jimmy, Joe was also receiving phenomenal instruction in technique and composition. Page taught him the fundamentals of intro, verse, chorus, bridge and conclusion.

For the first time, Joe Jammer started writing his own material. He’d play his songs for Page and learn how to create cohesive musical statements. What aspiring guitarist wouldn’t have been thrilled to have Jimmy Page as his personal musical mentor?

Joe Jammer worked for more than 40 dates but it was time for Led Zeppelin’s Third U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1969 to end. The band was going home to England after its last gig. That was the Texas International Pop Festival, held at the Dallas International Speedway in Lewisville on Sunday, August 31, 1969.

In October of that year, the boys in the band were back for Led Zeppelin’s Fourth U.S. and Canadian Tour of 1969. Once again, Joe Jammer met up with Jimmy Page. Peter Grant told Joe that, if he were willing to go back to England with them, he’d see to it that Joe would get a suitable band to enhance his talent.

Joe thought Peter Grant was just being kind and obliging. Or maybe Joe had just lost faith in himself. Whatever the reason, he gave up on his dream and declined Grant’s generous and, as it turned out, genuine offer.

Joe went back to Chicago and formed a band with musicians he had found on the road with Zeppelin that summer. Eventually, he would take this band to England.

Things didn’t go Joe’s way with this group but, while he was in England, he became the “pop protégé” of Mickie Most, the famous British music producer. Most set him up with a great career and a very comfortable lifestyle in England. Joe Jammer recorded two studio albums while he was there and also did a lot of session work for other artists.

After five years, Joe and Mickie parted ways. And then Joe was kicked out of England because he’d been living and working there for five years on a one-month tourist visa that he simply renewed every month!

Back home in the United States, Joe Jammer’s luck was once again about to change, courtesy of Led Zeppelin. When the band returned for another tour, he was sent an airline ticket and invitation to their concert in New York City. They put him up at the Plaza Hotel and treated him like a king during his stay.

Peter Grant then made him yet another offer. He asked Joe if he would like to play guitar for Maggie Bell, a singer recently signed to Zeppelin’s Swan Song label? This time, Joe was happy to accept and participate in this major 1974 tour of Maggie Bell’s.

While on tour with Maggie, Joe discovered the oriental art of tai chi and began incorporating some of its ballet-like moves into the blues-rock music of her band. To heighten the overall effect, he also shaved his head!

As he toured with Maggie Bell, Joe’s visa problems were slowly being resolved. When the tour ended, he was able to go back to England. He and some musician friends formed a studio group called The Olympic Runners. The band cut an album of soul-based music whose songs became disco hits in the United States. Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is and Do It Over were two such hits for the group.

One of the members of The Olympic Runners decided to record his own solo album, backed up by his band mates, including Joe Jammer. One of the tracks on Peter Wingfield’s record was an in-joke derived from music industry jargon. But Eighteen with a Bullet became a huge hit!

In his 1975 article, Al Rudis concluded that Joe Jammer was still very much like a wide-eyed, awestruck teenager who would just die to meet a favourite rock star!

The fantastic, fairy-tale life of Joe Jammer continues to this day. Although he has made his own musical mark in the pop music business, he still seems incredulous at his luck in connecting with Led Zeppelin. He gratefully recognizes that he owes his career to the band and its management.

http://www.learn-about-led.com/Enzepplozine-enzepplozinevolume209.html

Yeah, I read that article awhile ago.

Anything else?

[slagfarmer]

Who Is That Masked Guitarist?

This is not a mystery to some but perhaps for many a point pondered: who is the bandaged guitarist in Robert Plant's promotional video for 'Burning Down One Side' (02:26-02:40)?

The bandaged guitarist is in fact Nash the Slash (the guitar solo on the album is performed by Robbie Blunt).

http://www.nashtheslash.com/news/

http://en.wikipedia..../Nash_the_Slash

Wow Nash the slash..that's a name I haven't heard of in a long time. I saw Nash and his band FM open for Rush at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1986(i think). Is there a connection to RP or is it just a video appearance? Are those page 3 girls in the video?

Edited May 18, 2010 by slagfarmer

[glicine]

Who Is That Masked Guitarist?

This is not a mystery to some but perhaps for many a point pondered: who is the bandaged guitarist in Robert Plant's promotional video for 'Burning Down One Side'

The bandaged guitarist is in fact Nash the Slash (the guitar solo on the album is performed by Robbie Blunt).

Well Steve I've read something else interesting you might want to check out.

This is from Nigel Dick's website who was the producer for this video.

I was producing Robert Plant's first ever solo video which Robbo directed. His guitar player didn't show up so I got to be his stand-in. For a moment I thought: "If that's Robert Plant over there - then I must be Jimmy Page!" I'd always dreamed of somehow being Jimmy Page which is why I had that cheesy Les Paul copy. Moral: Be careful what you wish for - it often comes true but not in the way you'd imagined. © Dick

You can read it here: Nigel Dick

Edited for more details on this video

df 002 ROBERT PLANT - Burning Down One Side

sd 1982

loc London, England

dir Dave Robinson

pr Nigel Dick

dp

art Nigel Dick

dirt I get to do my best Jimmy Page impersonation whilst wrapped in bandages.

nigeldick films

Edited May 18, 2010 by glicine

[SteveAJones]

Well Steve I've read something else interesting you might want to check out.

This is from Nigel Dick's website who was the producer for this video.

You can read it here: Nigel Dick

Edited for more details on this video

nigeldick films

Very interesting. I think I need to contact him for clarification. Hard to imagine it was supposed to be Robbie Blunt standing on the table. Hard to imagine it's actually Nigel Dick impersonating Nash the Slash impersonating

Jimmy Page

[SteveAJones]

Wow Nash the slash..that's a name I haven't heard of in a long time. I saw Nash and his band FM open for Rush at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1986(i think). Is there a connection to RP or is it just a video appearance? Are those page 3 girls in the video?

The only connection I'm aware of is Nash the Slash, who hails from Toronto, attended Led Zeppelin's 1969 gig at the Rockpile and may have been living in London, England at the time and could have been among the many artists Robert Plant was into at the time. However, Glicine has posted comments from the director, Nigel Dick, in which he claims he (Dick) was a stand-in for Robbie Blunt on the video shoot. It's not clear to me he's saying it's actually him and not Nash the Slash under the bandages, or if the bandages were inspired by Nash the Slash.

So far as I know the women are actresses and not Page 3 girls. I wish it were possible to identify them all and perhaps the director will have such details on file. We have been able to confirm the same actress that appears

in the promotional video for The Firm's 'All The Kings Horses' (1986) also appears in Robert Plant's promotional

video for 'Heaven Knows' (1988) - Alice Gee.

[slagfarmer]

The only connection I'm aware of is Nash the Slash, who hails from Toronto, attended Led Zeppelin's 1969 gig at the Rockpile and may have been living in London, England at the time and could have been among the many artists Robert Plant was into at the time. However, Glicine has posted comments from the director, Nigel Dick, in which he claims he (Dick) was a stand-in for Robbie Blunt on the video shoot. It's not clear to me he's saying it's actually him and not Nash the Slash under the bandages, or if the bandages were inspired by Nash the Slash.

So far as I know the women are actresses and not Page 3 girls. I wish it were possible to identify them all and perhaps the director will have such details on file. We have been able to confirm the same actress that appears

in the promotional video for The Firm's 'All The Kings Horses' (1986) also appears in Robert Plant's promotional

video for 'Heaven Knows' (1988) - Alice Gee.

Steve after countless hours of searching I might have found the girl at about the 1:30 mark of the video. Believe me when I say that searching through all of those models on page 3.com was the least i could do for this thread . I believe her name is Linda Lusardi. Please feel free to search this as well. It is a tough job but someone has to do it

[Knebby]

Linda Lusardi was definitely in that video and she was a Page 3 girl for years (though in recent years she became an actress, staring for a while in the UK soap "Emmerdale")

[slagfarmer]

Linda Lusardi was definitely in that video and she was a Page 3 girl for years (though in recent years she became an actress, staring for a while in the UK soap "Emmerdale")

I see my research has payed off (I enjoyed it). Thanks Knebby

[swandown]

September 1, 1974

Austin, TX

University of Texas Memorial Stadium - ZZ Top's First Annual Texas Size Rompin' Stompin' Barndance and Bar B.Q.

Jimmy joined Bad Company for an encore jam on 'Rock Me Baby' upon their request that he do so…Carlos Santana

co-headlined with ZZ Top; Joe Cocker and Bad Company were the opening acts

September 4, 1974

New York, NY

Central Park - Schaefer Music Festival

Jimmy attended this event with Peter Grant; watches from side stage and joins Bad Company (opening for Foghat) for the second time this week on their second encore, a jam on 'Rock Me Baby'.

Also May 23, 1976, where Page (and Plant?) joined Bad Company for their encore at the L.A. Forum.

[SteveAJones]

I see my research has payed off (I enjoyed it). Thanks Knebby

Outstanding!

[Knebby]

I remember at the time of the video asking if he had particularly chosen her - he claimed he hadn't

[SteveAJones]

I remember at the time of the video asking if he had particularly chosen her - he claimed he hadn't

I can believe casting was handled by the director and regardless that Robert was pleased with these choices.

I presume this was filmed in Summer 1982. Would yourself or anyone else on board know the filming locations, in particular the doorway to the house, the restaurant and the street scenes?

[And You Know How It Is?]

Hi Steve,

I don't think this was covered before in this great thread: I'm curious about the details surrounding the 1971 European Spring "Tour". The parenthesis on "Tour" is due to the fact that the only documented shows were:

May 3 - Copenhagen, Denmark

May 10 - Liverpool, England (rescheduled date from March 16 "Back to the Clubs" tour dates in England)

July 5 - Milan, Italy - imfamous riot show cut short

I suppose we could add the two Montreaux, Switzerland dates in early August, but I think those were more warm up dates for the US tour later that month.

This "tour" and timeframe is so compelling, based on the experimental phase the band were in on stage, as noted by the legendary Copenhagen show.

It's chronicled that Jimmy was awaiting the birth of Scarlet during this time, and the band were working on mixing the fourth album, so that certainly influenced dates booked. But, do we really know if Peter Grant planned a mini tour (ala 1980 for example)?

So, the mysteries of this "tour" are:

What were the actual tour stops planned (cities, dates)?

Did they in fact solidify dates, then cancel any of these dates?

Were there any shows actually played outside of these three dates?

Were the band just as experimental in trying out new, never played live songs at Liverpool and Milan (and other other possible shows confirmed), as they were in Copenhagen (although Milan was cut short, due to the rioting)?

[ally]

Hi Steve,

I don't think this was covered before in this great thread: I'm curious about the details surrounding the 1971 European Spring "Tour". The parenthesis on "Tour" is due to the fact that the only documented shows were:

May 3 - Copenhagen, Denmark

May 10 - Liverpool, England (rescheduled date from March 16 "Back to the Clubs" tour dates in England)

July 5 - Milan, Italy - imfamous riot show cut short

I suppose we could add the two Montreaux, Switzerland dates in early August, but I think those were more warm up dates for the US tour later that month.

This "tour" and timeframe is so compelling, based on the experimental phase the band were in on stage, as noted by the legendary Copenhagen show.

It's chronicled that Jimmy was awaiting the birth of Scarlet during this time, and the band were working on mixing the fourth album, so that certainly influenced dates booked. But, do we really know if Peter Grant planned a mini tour (ala 1980 for example)?

So, the mysteries of this "tour" are:

What were the actual tour stops planned (cities, dates)?

Did they in fact solidify dates, then cancel any of these dates?

Were there any shows actually played outside of these three dates?

Were the band just as experimental in trying out new, never played live songs at Liverpool and Milan (and other other possible shows confirmed), as they were in Copenhagen (although Milan was cut short, due to the rioting)?

I can't answer all of your questions but what I can tell you is that on the first stop on the NA 71 tour in Vancouver, the show was in fact very different from all the gigs that followed. Not quite as extensive as Copenhagen but, electric versions of Gallows Pole and Tangerine as well as Friends during the acoustic set were played.

[SteveAJones]

Hi Steve,

I don't think this was covered before in this great thread: I'm curious about the details surrounding the 1971 European Spring "Tour". The parenthesis on "Tour" is due to the fact that the only documented shows were:

May 3 - Copenhagen, Denmark

May 10 - Liverpool, England (rescheduled date from March 16 "Back to the Clubs" tour dates in England)

July 5 - Milan, Italy - imfamous riot show cut short

I suppose we could add the two Montreaux, Switzerland dates in early August, but I think those were more warm up dates for the US tour later that month.

This "tour" and timeframe is so compelling, based on the experimental phase the band were in on stage, as noted by the legendary Copenhagen show.

It's chronicled that Jimmy was awaiting the birth of Scarlet during this time, and the band were working on mixing the fourth album, so that certainly influenced dates booked. But, do we really know if Peter Grant planned a mini tour (ala 1980 for example)?

So, the mysteries of this "tour" are:

What were the actual tour stops planned (cities, dates)?

Did they in fact solidify dates, then cancel any of these dates?

Were there any shows actually played outside of these three dates?

Were the band just as experimental in trying out new, never played live songs at Liverpool and Milan (and other other possible shows confirmed), as they were in Copenhagen (although Milan was cut short, due to the rioting)?

There were at least 14 gigs played in March & April in Ireland (2) & England (12), which could also arguably be considered part of this era of touring.

Jimmy's daughter, Scarlet Lilith Elieska Page as born March 24, 1971.

Robert had some vocal issues during this time, specifically the March 16, 1971 Liverpool University concert was cancelled after he contracted laryngitis, and the initial date for the BBC Radio 1 'In Concert' recording session, March 25, 1971, was postponed on the day to April 1st to give Plant's vocal chords a much-needed break from performing.

My notes show a May 4, 1971 gig at Fyns Forum in Odensen, Denmark, that the Milan concert ended after 45 minutes on account of rioting between attendees and police and that Jimmy started using an Orange amplifier

at the August 7, 1971 Montreux Casino gig. Ally has alluded to experimentation and changes in the setlist.

[Conneyfogle]

Anyone got any info on this?

I presume it's Jimmy as it was an extra on a New Mexico '73' Recording

Edited June 23, 2010 by Conneyfogle

[swandown]

Anyone got any info on this?

It sounds like one of Jimmy's home demos from Disc 4 of the "Sessions" bootleg. It's got bits from "Rain Song", "The Rover" and the "Death Wish 2" soundtrack.

[Wolfman]

Hey Steve, Putting aside the '77 Houston show, what do you think is the most hoarded show out there (film/video or tape/reel/cassette, etc.). I love the rumors on this stuff!

[Flyingzepp]

Hey Steve, Putting aside the '77 Houston show, what do you think is the most hoarded show out there (film/video or tape/reel/cassette, etc.). I love the rumors on this stuff!

I love the rumors on that stuff as well, I personally think it would be a casette or reel before Gonzaga!

[SteveAJones]

I love the rumors on that stuff as well, I personally think it would be a casette or reel before Gonzaga!

I enjoy the rumors as well, most of which have already presented within other threads. All I will add here is it's a mystery, if you like, to me why their 1979 Knebworth Festival concert was not released in it's entirety the year

after the Led Zeppelin DVD came out. The timing was right - 25th Anniversary - and the market was salivating.

We know for certain at least some of the material was brought up to commercial release standards, for the Led

Zeppelin DVD, but how far discussions went, let alone production got, for a full concert release is not as clear.

[Wolfman]

What video was that some company in LA owns that Jimmy refused to pay for when they asked for a shit load of money? Bath '70?